Viking FDW103 Dishwasher Review

Item: Viking FDW103 Dishwasher
Rating: 4.1
Author: ConsumersAdvocate

ConsumersAdvocate.org Rating: 4.1 / 5 (Excellent)

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Since 2013, Viking Range, LLC has been part of The Middleby Corporation of Elgin, Illinois. Middleby is the largest commercial kitchen equipment manufacturer in the world. The Viking FDW103 is an upper-middle grade dishwasher that features interchangeable facades and handles, multiple wash cycles, and an adjustable upper rack.

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How is Viking FDW103 rated?

Breakdown

4.0/5

Quality

4.3/5

Performance

4.0/5

Warranty

Overall Rating: 4.1 / 5 (Excellent)

The Viking FDW103 dishwasher offers a complete and unique set of features. It can be ordered with multiple finish and handle options. The control panel presents a number of cycles and wash options. This appliance is one of the most energy-efficient dishwashers we've reviewed. It has a better than average warranty, which covers electronic components for five years. The manufacturer claims it will hold 14 place settings, two fewer than some competing models. With a running noise level of 48 dB, it is one of the noisier machines in this category, but still within an acceptable range. Purchasing this unit is a slam-dunk for people who have already adopted--or who wish to adopt--the Viking aesthetic in their kitchens.

Quality - 4 / 5

Viking offers numerous ways to customize the FDW103's appearance. The dishwasher pictured here comes with a cabinet finish door that simulates a fine-grain reddish wood. Other door panels in stainless steel, black, white, and Tuscany blue are available. The gently-curved protruding handle is made of stainless steel. Other handle options, including a towel bar-style, can be purchased. Viking is a design-conscious brand, and its attention to style shows in its the richness of the finishes available for this unit. The net result is a machine whose appearance can be configured to blend in with a variety of kitchen decors. Controls are top-mounted and include a digital readout that displays the time left on the wash and the cycle that's been chosen. The unit projects a gentle pool of light on the floor in front of it when it's running which acts as a pilot light. The overall look is not high-tech, but conveys solidity and a concern with the look and feel of the kitchen environment.

Performance - 4.3 / 5

This noise produced by the Viking FDW103 is a full nine dB higher than the quietest machine we consider. A review of its specifications suggests that the company employs older technologies to dampen the sound. When it comes to energy efficiency, however, this unit is at the top of its class, consuming fewer kilowatt hours per year than most competing machines. Numerous wash and cycle options are available, including a sanitize feature. It doesn't offer a third rack, nor does it provide individual bottle washer jets, but it does have stemware cradles in its upper rack. In sum, in some performance areas, this machine is ahead of the competition, while in others it lags behind.

Warranty - 4 / 5

On many modern appliances, the first part to fail is not a motor, seal, or structural element. It's one of the electronic components that control the machine's operation. These components are expensive and can be difficult and expensive to replace. The Viking FDW103 dishwasher carries a five-year warranty on its electronic components, which is considerably better than that offered by most of its competitors, though still well short of the expected lifetime of the product. The manufacturer also provides a lifetime limited warranty on the tub and the inner door, but the failure rate of these components is vanishingly small. The rest of the unit gets one-year coverage, which is the minimum acceptable for an appliance in this class.

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